Cuticle remover applicator



May 1, 1951 A. E. VAUGHN CUTICLE REMOVER APPLICATOR Filed Jan. 19, 1946 6 7 m ll n 5 0 m m a. Q m ,4 mww M A F V m Em \\\\\A\ T #7 Wr M [0 dwF E c a w A Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to manicuring accessories and particularly to a device for applying cuticle softening liquid to and removing cuticle from fingernails.

In removing cuticle during the manicuring of fingernails it is the usual practice to wrap a wad of cotton around the end of an orange stick, dip the cotton into a bottle of cuticle-softening liquid and then swab the base or root of the nail to soften the cuticle or epidermis. After the cuticle has been softened it is cut and removed from the finger with the aid of a sharp instrument. While this method of removing cuticle is quite satisfactory, I have found that the operation can be greatly facilitated and expedited if the applicator and cuticle removing tool are combined in a unitary device. It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a device having means for applying cuticle-softening liquids to the cuticle and means for removing the softened cuticle from the fingernail.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated comprising a reservoir for containing a supply of cuticle-softening liquid, a combined liquid applying and cuticle removing means formed integral with said reservoir and means for dispensing the liquid from said reservoir to said combined liquid applying and cuticle removing means for application to the cuticle.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated in which the combined liquid applying and cuticle removing means consists of a tapered tip having a sharp edge for cutting the cuticle and having a relatively small groove for dispensing the liquid which is fed thereinto in small quantities from the reservoir by the feedingmeans.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated having resilient bulb means adapted to be selectively compressed and .eX- panded to draw liquid into the reservoir and to feed liquid in small quantities from said reservoir to the combined liquid applying and cuticle removing tip for application to a cuticle.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated having a reservoir in which a wad of absorbent material is compressed, said absorbent material serving to retain the cuticlesoftening liquid in the reservoir to prevent leaks age therefrom.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated composed of a minimum number of simple parts adapted for economical manu facture and convenient assembly and one which is pleasing in appearance and efiicient in forming its intended functions.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will appear from the following part of the specification, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims. Referring to the drawing, which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a combined liquid applying and cuticleremoving device embodying the novel features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the device with the closure member removed to adapt the device for use;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line per- . 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the means for connecting the feeding means to the reservoir, drawn to a further enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of a slightly modified tip for the device;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the tip shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, my combined cuticle-softening and removing device comprises a cylindrical body portion I 9 having an axial bore I l which forms a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of cuticle-softening liquid. The reservoir 1! is preferably tapered toward one end and this end is extended to provide a combined applicator and cuticle removing ti'p i2. As shown in Fig. l, the tip I2 is of substantially concavo-convex shape. in cross section with the slightly curved upper and lower surfaces It and I4 thereof tapering to a point 15. Referring to Fig. 2, the sides 56 and i! of the tip l2 also taper toward each other with their vertex slightly rounded as shown at i8. Through this provision, a curved cutting edge 2i] is provided at the extremity of the tip I2 for the purpose of cutting cuticle from the fingernails in a manner to be more fully explained hereinafter.

The tip I2 is provided with a longitudinal groove 2| in its upper surface it, the groove extending to the relatively pointed end 26] of the tip. A relatively small opening or passage 22 extends diagonally inwardly from the groove 2| to communicate with the interior of reservoir H. Cuticle-softening liquid is adapted to be drawn into and dispensed from the reservoir l l by way of the passage 22 by means, to be later described,

and to prevent undesirable leakage of the liquid from the reservoir through the passage a wad of absorbent material 23 is inserted in the reservoir. The material 23 may be of a fibrous or sponge-like nature and preferably is made by cutting a strip of square cross section from a sheet of cellulose sponge, the dimensions between the sides of the square being somewhat larger than the diameter of the bore H. The square strip of sponge material 23 is rolled dry upon a fiat surface to provide a round, compressed rod of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the bore II to adapt the rod to be slid thereinto. When the rod of material 23 is later wetted by the cuticle remover liquid it will swell or expand to reduce the size of its interstices and form a very tight fit within the reservoir l I to positively prevent leakage of the liquid from the reservoir.

The body portion in of the device is preferably molded from plastic material and is provided with a reduced portion 25 adjacent its upper open end, said reduced portion having screw threads 26. The upper extremity of the body portion H1 is provided with a further reduced portion 27 and a peripheral groove 28. Surrounding the portion 2'! is the mouth 29 of a resilient bulb 30 for drawing liquid into and dispensing it from the reservoir 'l l. The mouth 29 of the bulb 30 may be secured in place on the shoulder 21 by means of a ring 32 which is preferably compressed or crimped thereon to force the material of the bulb into the peripheral groove 28 to provide a leakproof joint as shown in Fig. 5. A cover member 33 may be employed for enclosing the bulb 31] when the device is not in use to guard against accidental compressing thereof which would result in unnecessary dispensing of the liquid from the reservoir. The cover member 33 may consist of a plastic tube having a dome-shaped closed end 34 and its open end provided with internal screw threads 35 to adapt it to be screwed onto the threaded portion 26 of the body portion It as shown in Fig. 1.

To apply the cuticle-softening and removing device to use, the cover member 33 is first removed from the body portion It! by unscrewing it from the threaded portion 26. The lower end of the tip E2 of the device is then inserted into a bottle containing cuticle-softening liquid and the bulb 30 compressed and thereafter released to cause it to draw liquid through the passage 22 and into the reservoir H and bulb, this method of procedure being similar to that employed for filling medicine droppers. After the reservoir l i and bulb 30 have been filled, the liquid will be retained in the device by the compressed absorbent material 23 and thus the device may be held in the vertical position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 without danger of the liquid leaking out through the passage 22. Thus, it is unnecessary to employ a cap or other closure for enclosing the tip I2 of the device.

To remove cuticle from a fingernail, the pointed end of the tip i2 is placed against the base or root of the nail and the bulb 38 com pressed slightly to force a drop of cuticle-softening liquid through the material 23 and passage 22 to permit it to fiow downwardly through the groove 2| and be applied to the fingernail. The liquid then flows along the nail-fold to contact and soften the cuticle or epidermis to permit easy removal thereof. After a drop of liquid has been dispensed and applied in the manner explained above the bulb 30 is released. Liquid may be applied to the several fingernails and permitted to remain thereon to fully permeate the cuticles or may be applied to a single fingernail at a time. In either case, after a cuticle has been properly softened by the liquid it may be severed from the nail-fold by drawing the cutting edge 20 thereacross, the device being held in the manner of a pencil while performing this operation. The cutting edge 20 is made relatively sharp so that a minimum of effort is required to sever the cuticle and remove it completely from the fingernail. After sufficient liquid has been dispensed from the reservoir l l, the cover member 33 may be applied to the upper end of the device to protect the bulb 38 and to prevent unwarrented or accidental manipulation of the bulb.

Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawing illustrate a slightly modified construction of the tip of the device. The tip 40 is of substantially the same shape as the tip 12 previously described but the longitudinal liquid-dispensing groove 41 is formed in the bottom concaved side 42 of the tip. A passage 43 extends from the groove 41 to a reservoir 44 for dispensing liquid from the reservoir as required. The modified device is operated in the same manner as the one previously described and during the application of liquid to the fingernail the liquid is dispensed from the reservoir 44, through the passage 43 and into the groove 4| which extends to the cutting edge 45.

It will be apparent that further modifications may be made in the construction of the device. For example, the shape of the body portion l0 and tip i2 may be varied and the cover member 33 may be frictionally held on the end of the body member. The means for connecting the resilient bulb 39 to the body portion may also be modified within the scope of this invention.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides a particularly simple, yet efficient device for applying cuticle-softening liquid to fingernails and for removing the softened cuticle therefrom and thus greatly facilitates and expedites the manicuring of fingernails. The device is composed of a minimum number of parts which may be easily and quickly assembled and the main parts may be molded from plastic to further reduce the cost of the article and to enhance its appearance. As a particular feature of the invention, means are provided for dispensing the liquid in small quantities as required. Means are also provided for preventing leakage of the liquid content from the reservoir so that wasting of liquid is avoided.

While the manicuring accessory has been herein shown and described as embodied in two preferred forms of construction by way of example, I do not intend to be limited to the specific disclosures contained herein since various changes, modifications, and substitutions may be incorporated in the exemplary embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I reserve the right to all such changes, modifications, and substitutions as properly come within the scope of my appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A manicu-ring accessory, comprising: a body portion having a bore constituting a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of cuticle-softening liquid, said body portion having one open end and a tapered cuticle remover tip formed integral with and projecting from the opposite end of said body portion, said tip being provided with a relatively sharp end, a longitudinal groove and an uninterrupted passage extending between said reservoir and said groove; a wad of absorbent material disposed wholly within and completely filling said reservoir and adapted to retain said liquid in said reservoir; and resilient bulb means connected to said open end of said body portion and adapted to be compressed and expanded to draw cuticle softening liquid through said groove and said passage to cause it to be absorbed in said absorbent material in said reservoir and to feed said liquid from said absorbent material through said passage and into said groove for application to a cuticle.

2. In a manicuring accessory, the combination of: a body portion having a longitudinal bore of relatively large cross-sectional area which constitutes a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of cuticle-softening liquid; a wad of sponge material compressed wholly within and completely filling said reservoir; a tapered cuticle remover tip formed integrally with said body portion having a longitudinal groove extending substantially from one end of said tip to the other end and a short, uninterrupted passage of small cross-sectional area connecting said groove with said reservoir; and a resilient hollow bulb secured to said body which, when compressed is adapted to expel cuticle-softening liquid from said sponge material through said passage into said groove.

3. In a manicuring accessory, the combination of: a body portion having a longitudinal bore of relatively large cross-sectional area which constitutes a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of cuticle-softening liquid; a wad of sponge material compressed wholly within and completely filling said reservoir; a tapered cuticle remover tip formed integrally with said body portion and having formed in its surface a longitudinal groove extending substantially from one which constitutes a reservoir adapted to contain a supply of cuticle softening liquid; a wad of sponge material compressed wholly within and completely filling said reservoir; a tapered cuticle remover tip formed integrally with said body portion and having formed in its surface a longitudinal groove extending substantially from one end of said tip to the other end and a short, uninterrupted passage of small cross-sectional area connecting said groove directly with said reservoir having its reservoir end covered by said sponge material; and a resilient, hollow bulb removably secured to said body which, when compressed, is adapted to expel cuticle-softening material from said sponge material through said passage and into said groove.

ALBERT E. VAUGHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,603,842 Colpe Oct, 19, 1926 1,636,1 l8 Provost July 19, 1927 1,910,669 Biederman May 23, 1933 2,116,888 Grodka May 10, 1938 2,296,761 Beckers Sept. 22, 1942 

